Insurers and trial lawyers in Washington State are ramping up their rival campaigns in the battle over a ballot initiative that would repeal a law making it easier to convict insurers of bad faith and impose triple damages.

Up for a decision by voters is legislation known as the Insurance Fair Conduct Act that was approved by the state legislature and signed into law earlier this year. Opponents of the legislation, however, are seeking to overturn it through a ballot initiative known as R-67.

The group–known as Reject R-67, or Consumers Against Higher Insurance Rates–has begun an ad campaign aimed at convincing voters that the law will serve primarily as a boon for trial lawyers. In the ad, members of a fictional law firm discuss how the law would allow them to file more suits and obtain settlements by threatening to seek triple damages.

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